The LADWP plan to terminate irrigation on 6,400 acres in Long Valley (Crowley Lake) would stop 30,000 AF of water from being spread for cattle range and wildlife habitat (Bi-state sage grouse). The volume of this water would fill 65 Rose Bowls. This is an unconscionable act by the City of Los Angeles that undermines the multi-stakeholder agreement to manage the sage grouse and a blow to Owens Valley ranches that have depended on Long Valley for summer range for 100 years.

Shepards hot spring is one of at least 7 natural hot springs that attract people to the very unique geothermal region that is the Long Valley Caldera. Los Angeles and its Department of Water and Power (LADWP) plan to dry up approximately 6,400 acres of grazing lands, riparian land, and wetlands in this part of the Long Valley around Lake Crowley.

The hot springs themselves may survive LADWP’s proposed de-watering, but the wetlands and meadowlands around them will dry out and die. This will likely cause dust problems, heightened fire risk, and significant loss of habitat. No one has conducted environmental impact studies to determine the impact of cutting off 30,000 acre feet of water annually on the aquifer below Long Valley. If the ground water levels in the aquifer go down too much, that could dry up some of the hot springs.